Car truck



Aug. 20, 1946. v

c. J. w. CLASEN cm mucx F119; NOV. 4, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVI-INTOR.

Y in section;

Patented Aug. 20, 1946 umrso rsTArss PATENT om gt CAR TRUCK Claus Werner Clasen, Chicago, Ill., assignorto American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill.; acor- -poration of New Jersey Application November 4 26 Claims. (01105- 197) My invention relates to a railway, car truck and more particularly to a novel spring support for the truck bolster.

The principal object of my invention is to prevent harmonious oscillations of, the bolster supporting spring group by supporting the springsin such a manner that the compression load is out of ratio to the vertical movement of the bolster for the entire range of bolster loads.

Another object'of my invention is to provide a truck such as abovedescribed, inwhich certain springs of the bolster supporting group have a relatively great length of travel with respect to other springs of the group, means being interposed between the spring group and'the side frame for causing a greater rate of'deflection in the long travel springs than in the other springs.

My invention comprchends a side frame of novel form comprising tension and compression members and spaced, columns defining therewith a bolster opening, and a spring seat rocker rockably seated on the tension member in said opene in and having means cooperating with means on the side frame at opposite sides of the bolster opening for maintaining the side frame and rocker in assembledrelationship.

Injmy novel side frame the rocker is so arranged that its'contact point'with the side frame under empty car conditions is close to the center line of the long travel springs, whereby the lighter bolster loads are carried 'mostly by the long travel springs, and as the bolster loads are increased, an increasing proportion of the load is placed upon the short travel springs.

In the drawings} 1 Figure l is a composite View, of a railway car truck embodying my invention, the left half of Figure 1 being a side elevation taken from the outboard side of the frame and the right half of this figure being a. side elevation taken from the inboard side of the frame with the bolster hown Figure 2 is a fragmentary top view, of my novel truck, the left of Figure 2 being a'top plan view and the right half thereof being a sectional view through one of the side frame columns with the bolster removed.

Figure 3 is a sectionalview takenin the transverse vertical plane'indicated by theli ne 33 of Figure l, with thespring group and aportion of the bolster shown in elevation, and Figure 4 is a sectional viewlcomparable to Figure 3 but illustratingmy novel truck under loaded car,

,1943, SeriallNo. 508,878

a 2 members, 2 and 4 and the spaced columnsfli, 6, defining therewitha bolster opening 6,,and spaced window openings l0, l0. s

As best seen in Figures 3 and 4, the compression member 2 is of box-section abovethebolster opening, and the tension member 4 is of boxsection therebelofwwith the inboard and outboard webs l2 and I4 and the top and bottom chords I6 and I8. A wear plate20 is seated on the top chord l6and secured thereto, by any convenient means, such as welding; v Seated on the plate 20' is a rocker 22 comprising concave bearing sur faces 24, 24 for slidable engagement with spring caps or plates 26, 26, the-lower surface of the rocker 22 being arcuate' forro'cking engagement as at 28 (Figures 3 and 4) with the wear plate 20. side frame is formed with lugs 30, 30 received within complementary recesses 32, 32 in the rocker for maintaining the latter in assembled relationship with the side frame while, at the 1 same time, accommodating the rockingor tilting action of the rocker upon the plate 20 as hereinafter described.

Supported on the spring plates 26, 26'

area pair of outboard coil springs 34, 34 and a pair of inboard springs 36, 36,- theplates 26, 26 being provided with suitable positoning means38, ,38 for said springs. As illustrated, each spring 34 and 36 is a composite spring comprising a pair of telescoped coils, but it will beunderstood that, if desired, 'each of these springs may bea single coil spring. v

Supported on the springs 34 and is a, bolster generally designated 40, said bolster being of genthan the inboard springs/36, 36 and seat as at 52 against the top chord.42 of the bolster, the inboard springs 36, 36 being seated at 54 against the bottom chord 44 of the bolster, the outboard spring 34, 34 having a relatively great length of travel with respect to the inboalid'springs 36, 36. It will be, understood that this differential in the lengthof travel may be achieved, if desired, by

providing outboard springs 34, 34 of relatively Describing my invention. in detail, the side small capacity with respect tothe inboard springs 36, 36,.with the bolster and springsso arranged At opposite sides of the holster opening, the

i longitudinal center line thereof.

that all of the springs are of the same length.

However, I have preferred to utilize springs of the inboard and outboard guide lugs 56 and 56 for cooperation with the adjacent column 6 to main tain the side frame and bolster in assembled relationship.

Referring now to Figures 3 and '4, it will be seen that these figures are similar except that Figure 3 illustrates the bolster under light car loads, under which conditions the contact between the rocker and the plate 20 is adjacent the center lines of the outboard springs 34, 34.

vertical operating with means on said rocker to maintain the latter in assembled relationship with said frame, and a bolster supportedfrom said springs and having guide means-cooperating with said columns, and means interposed between said springs and said rocker for preventing bending ofsaid springs during relative tilting movement of the rocker with respect to the frame, said last- I mentioned means comprising spring plates slid- It will thus be understood that under light car v most of the bolster load is carried by the outboard springs, whereas under loaded car, as illustrated in Figure 4, the inboard hort'travel springs 36; 36 'will cause the rocker to tilt, whereby its contactwith the side frame is at approximately'the Thus it will -be understood that as the bolster loads increase, a greater proportion of the load is transferred to the inboard short travel springs 36, 36. By means of this novel arrangement the rate of deflection for the long travel springs 34, 34 is greater than the ratev of deflection for the, short travel springs 36, 36. It maybe noted that bending of the springs a a result of the tilting movement of the rocker on the tension member is:

substantially prevented by. the slidable engage-1 ment of the spring plates 26, 26 with the concave bearing surfaces 24,24 on the top of the rockeni and it will be understood'that sliding of the plates 26, 26 on the surfaces 24, 24 may be expedited'by any suitable lubricant. A comparison ofFigureg 3 and 4 clearly illustrate the manner in which thespring plates 26, 26 slide on the rocker surfaces 24, 24 as the rocker tilts inboardlyand outboardly during vertical oscillations of the bolster. It is to be understood that I do not Wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device.

shown which i merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims. V I claim:

mounted on concave surfaces atop said rocker, a pair of inboard and a pair of outboard springs seated on respectivecaps, aid outboard springs havinga greaterlength of travel'than said inboard" springs, means on said frame at opposite sides of said opening cooperating with means on said rocker to maintain the latter in assembled 1. In arailway car truck, a sidefframe c'om-Q prising spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, a rocker 'rockably seated on said,

frame in said opening, spring plates slidably 2. In a railway car truck, aside frame comthan the other thereof, means on said frame coprising spaced column and an intervening bolj ster opening with a fiat surface at the bottom 5 thereof, a rocker tiltably supported in said frame Q on said surface, a pair of inboard and a pair of j outboard -springssupported from said rockenone 1 I of said pairs having a greater length of travel 1 ably mounted on concave surfaces atop said rocker, the axes of the springs of one of said pairs being disposed at one side of the rocking axis of said rocker andthe axe of the springs of the other pair beingdisposed at'the opposite side of said rocking axis. 1

3. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening with a fiat face at the bottom thereof, a rocker having an arcuate surface rockably seated on said face in said opening, a pair of inboard and a pair of outboard springssupported on said rockerysaid outboard springs having a greater length of travel than said inboard springs, means on said'frame cooperating with means on said rocker to maintain the latter in assembled relationship. with said frame, 'and a bolster supported from said springs anclhaving guide means cooperating with said columnsgsaid'rocker being formed and arranged so that its point of contact with said frame is at approximatelythe longitudinal center line thereof under full static bolster load."

4;. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening with a flat face at the bottom thereof, a rocker having anar'cuate surface'tiltably seated on "said; faceingsaid opening, the upper ends ofsaid surface" beingdisposed at the inboard and outboard sides of said rocker, a pair of inboard and a pair of outboard springs [supported 5. In a railway'cartruck, aside frame comprising spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, a rocker rockably seated on said frame in said opening said rocker being rockable on an axis extending longitudinally of said frame, spring plates slidably mounted on concave surfaces atop said rocker, apa ir of inboard and a pair of outboard'springsseated onrespective caps, said outboard springs having a greater length of travel than'saidinboard springs,.means on said frame at opposite sides of said opening cooperating with means'on said rocker to maintain the latter in assembled relationship with said frame, and a bolster supported from said springs and having guide means cooperating 'with said columns. a I

6. In a railwayv car truck, a side frame cornprising spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, a rocker having a substantially convex surface curved transversely of said frame'and rockably seated on said frame in said opening,

spring plates slidably mounted on concave surface atop said rocker, a pair of inboardand a pair of outboardsprings'seate'd on respective caps,

saidoutboard springs having a greater length of travel than said inboard springslugsformed on said frame at'the lower extremities of said columns, said lugs being received within compl'e mentary openings in said rocker for maintainin the latter in assembled relationship with said frame, and a bolster supported from 'said springs.

'7. In a railway car truckrasideframe comprising spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, a rocker having an arcuate surface curved transversely of said frame and rockably seated thereon in said pning, a pair of inboard and a pair of outboard springs supported on said rocker,said outboard springs having agreater length of travel than said inboard springs, means,

8. In a railway car truck, aside frame comprising spaced columns' and an interveningbolster opening, a flat surface onsaidframe between said columns, a rocker rockably mounted on said surface in said opening for rocking movement about an axis extending'longitu'dinally of said frame, spring plate'sslidably,mountedon concave surfaces atop said rocker, a pair of inboard and a pair of outboard springs'seated on respective caps, said outboard springs having a greater length of travel'than said inboard springs, means on said frame and said rocker for maintaining the latter in assembled relationship with'said frame, and a bolster supported from said springs.

9. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, a fiat surface on said'frame between said columns, a rocker having an arcuate surface rockably seated'on said first-mentioned surface in said opening, a pair of inboard and a pair of outboard springs supported on said rocker, said outboard springs having a greater length oftravel than'said inboard springs; meanson said frame cooperating with means on said rocker to maintain the latter in assembledrelationship' with said frame, and a bolster supported from saidsprings and having guide means coopfllating with said columns, the longitudinal axis of the respective pairs of springs intersecting said frame at oppo site sides of the point at which it engages said rocker. I r I, 10. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns and an intervening bol;- ster opening, a flat surface on saidlframe be-' tween said columns, a rocker tiltably supported on said surfacein said opening for tilting move ment about an axis extending longitudinally of said frame, a'pair of inboard and a pair of .outboard springs supported from said rocker, oneof said pairs having a greater length of travel than the other thereof, means on saidframe cooperating with means on said rocker to maintain the latter in assembled relationship with said frame, and a bolster supported from said springs and having guide means cooperating with said' columns.

11. In a railwaycartruck,alside frame, a-

surface seated on a flat surface of said frame,

said member. being formed and arranged so that its point of contact with said flat surface is at approximately the longitudinalcenter line there Q ofunder full static bolster load, and' means for interlocking said"frame*and said rockermeans while permitting a rocking action of thelatter agains t'saidflat surface. f

12,111 a railway car truck, a side frame,. a spring group supported'from said frame and com prising a long tra'yel spring and a short travel spring a bolster supported on said group, and rocker means interposed between said group and said frame, saidfrocker means comprising a rocker tiltably seated ona flat surface of'said frame,' meansforinterloclring said frame ands aid rocker} means while permitting a'rocking action of the latter, and spring cap slidably mounted on con-j cave surfaces"atopsaid rocker, said caps afford ingseats for respective of said springs'the vertical axis of therespective'springsintersecting said frame at oppositeside it engages said rocker.

13. In a railway cartruck, a side frame, a spring group supported'from said frame and comprising a long'travelspring and a'shorttravel spring abolster supported from said group, and rocker means interposedbetween saidgroup and said frame, said, rocker means being tiltably seated on said frame and interlocked therewith by means of spaced lugs .on said framel'received within complementary recessesin said rocker, said of the point at which springs beingso arrangedthat their vertical axes arev disposed at oppositeiside of thetilti'ng' axis of said rocker means.

'14. In a railway car truck,aside frame member comprising I spaced columnand an intervening bolster opening, arocker member. interlocked with said columns,- an. arcuate surface on one, of

said members bearing against .a fflatsurface: on, the other member to afford arocking action of' said rocker member, spring, means comprising spring of different capacity'jsupported by said,

rocker member and having their longitudinal axes disposed respectively at opposite sides ofthe rocking axis of said rocker member, a bolster sup ported by said spring means, and means for inter;

locking said bolster and said columns. a

1-5. In a railway car truck, a side frame mem-v ber, a rocker member, one of said members having an arcuate surface bearingagainst. a substan tially flat surface of the other member to afiord a rocking action' for saidrocker member, spaced spring means mounted. on said rocker member, one of said spring meansbeing of greater capacity' than the otheraa bolster supported by said spring means, the respective spring means being so formed and arranged that their vertical axes are disposedat opposite sides of the rocking axis of said rocker member, and means for interlocks ing said frameandrockerrnembers while accommodating said'rocking action. I Q

I 16. In a. railway car truck, a side frame memher, a spring group supported therefrom and comprising a pair of springs, one having greater-capucity than the other, a bolster member supported. by said group, and means interposed between said group and one of said members for accommodating under certain conditions a greater rate of deflection in one of said springs than in the other; said means comprising a rocker in abutment with; said one member along arcuate and flat inte rengaged surfaces, one of said surfaces being diS-f posed on saidone member and the other of said surfaces being disposed on the rocker, and spaced means at; opposite sides of said surfaces respectivelyand spaced therefrom for maintaining said rocker infassembled' relationshipwith said one member while accommodating a rocking action of s'aidrocke'r uponsaid surfaces, each of said recess means. i

, 17; In a railway car truck, asidelframe 'memher, a spring group supported therefro'mfand'co'mprising'a plurality of springs; certain of; which have greater capacity than others thereof a 591 ster supported from said springs, ahdr'nearisbIitirelyspaced from the bolster and 'operatively associated withlsaid springs for accommodating a greater rate of deflection for said greater capacity frame and cur'ving upwardly toward the ends'of causes said'rocker to tilt on said'arcuate surface, and means for interlocking saidframe and said rocker while permitting: saidtilting offthe rocker; 19. In ar nway c'ar"ftruck,' a side frame," a spring group supportedfromxgaid frame and com jprising' a long travel spring and a short travel spring, a bolster supported from said group, 'a irocker interposedbetween said group and said frame, said rocker comprising an arcuate bottom surface bearing against-a fiatsurface n the frame and curving upwardly toward the ends'of said rocker, each of said springs being seated on said rocker adjacentone-"of sai'djends thereof;

lwhereby compression andexpansi'onof said group causes said rocker to tilt on said arcuate surface thereof, said rocker beingso formed and arranged that itspointofcontact'with said framefis at approximately the longitudinal center line thereof'under full, static bolster mad, and 'means for interlocking said frame and said rocker against relative movement inboardly andoutboardly of the framefsaid means "accommodating a rock ingaction of said rocker on said arcuate surface thereof. r

t 20. In a side frame for a railway car truck,'a frame member comprising a fiat iseatya rocker flwith'an arcuate bottomsurf'aoe bearing againstsaid seat, said surface curvingupwardly toward the end of said rocker, abolster-supporting spring mounted atop said rocker adjacent each of said'ends thereof, one of said springhaving greater capacity than the other thereof, "whereby loading of said springs causes saidrocker to'rock on said surface, and means for interlockingsaid rockerwith said frame member'against' relative inboard and outboard movement other than the rocking movement of said rocker. 1 21'.'In a railway car truck, a side frame com"- spaced means comprising interengaged .lug and,

each other while permitting arocking action of surface bearing against a flat, surfaceon' the said rocker, each of said springs'being seated n said rocker 'adjacentfone'of said ends thereof,' whereby compression and expansion 'of said group 9 surface, spaced springmeans mountedon said prising-spacedcolumns and' an intervening bol-'- ster opening, a member interlocked with said col umns and having an arcuate surface tiltably seated on said frame atthe bottom'of said open-1 ing,said surface curving upwardlyltowar'd opposite ends of said member, a' spring seated on said member'adjacent each of said ends thereof, one ofsaid'smings beingjof greaterj capacityflthan the other thereof, whereby compression of said springs causessa'idfmember to tilton :saids lrface,

and a bolster supported by said springs and inter locked with said columns.

. 22'. In a raiIWaybartruck, a side frame com-, prising spacedcolumn andj'an intervening bol-, 1 ster opening, a member interlocked with said col l5 umns "and having an arcuatesurface tiltably seated onsaidframe fat the bottom of said opening, fsaid surface curving upwardly toward opposite ends of said memben a spring' seated on said member adjacenteach of said endsv thereof, and a bolsteif' upported by said springs and interlocked with said columns, one of said springs being of reater length than the other and being'hou'sed at its upper end within said bolster.

In a railway car truck, aside frainacomg prising afiat rocker seat, a rocker member with asubstantially convex surface bearing against said seat, spring mean comprising two coil springs mounted von'said member, one of said, springs being of relatively great, capacity, a b01- ster supported by saidsprings, said member being 1 so formedand arranged that its point of contact with said seat is entirely disposed intermediate the points at which the verticalaxes of respective springs intersect said frame, .and,means for interlocking said frame and saidrocker while permitting a rockingaction of the latter against said seat; v e

' flat seat, a member having a substantially convex 49 surface bearing against said seat, said surface being (curved, transversely ofsaid frame, inboard and outboard spring means supported by-said member, oneof said spring means being of greater P capacity than the other, abolster'supportedby 4;? said spring means and means interlocking said j frame and said .member I while accommodating 1 tilting movement of the latter against said seat. k 25. In a railwaycar truck, aside frame having 1 a flat surfac'e, a memberrockably seatedon-said member, one of said spring means being of greater capacity than the other, a bolster supported by said springmeans, the respective spring means being so formed and arrangedthat their vertical 5 axes aredisposed at opposite sides of the rocking axisof said member, and means for interlocking said'frame and said member/ whilepermitting a rocking, action of the latter. 26; In a railway car truck, a side frame having a flat surfaceja member rockably seated on said surface, spaced spring means mounted on said I member, one of said spring means being of greater said spring means, the respective spring means 5 being so formedandarrangedthat their vertical 3 axes are disposed at opposite sides of the rocking axis of said member, said member being so formed a and arranged that its pointof contact with said 1 frame isat approximately the longitudinal cen- 1 7O ter linethereof under'full st t bolster load, and

" means for interlocking said frame and said meml ber while permitting a rocking movement, of the latter.

24. In a railway car truck, a sideframe with a,

capacity than the other, abolster supported by I cLAU's. J." WERNE c AsEri. 1 

